Will the season start on time?

[patsh]

I was listening to NewsTalk106 last night, and an interview with Jim Roddy, the Derry chairman.
He seemed to think that there could be a problem with the season starting on time, because of the licencing issue. With the appeals process and the situation with Rovers, he thought there was a possiblity of a delay.
I hope not, as
1. I can't go much longer without a proper game and
2. It is going to look like the most amateur league in the world...:rolleyes:

[tiktok]

According to the FAI's own appeals process, the clubs have five days to appeal and then it's a week later assigned for the appeals to be heard, so the delay should be twelve days max.

Organising the fixtures shouldn't take up too much time. Rovers seem confident of having a ground organised and getting their licence, and they should be the worst off, I can't see much of a reason for a delay.

[NorthoftheLee]

the reports seem to suggest it will be business as usual....fixtures next weeknd I think......

[niamh]

Read a report saying that Rovers were trying to play at Dalymount. How on earth would Bohs agree to that considering what goes on between the clubs?

[patsh]

Originally posted by xtreme rebel
Yep, fixtures are being released at the AGM of the eircom League next Saturday, the 21st.
from SoccerCentral
http://www.soccercentral.ie/viewstory.asp?id=12164&mainheading=Eircom&viewstory=yes

soccercentral has learned that the postponed AGM of the eircom League will open as arranged on Saturday 21st Feb but will almost immediately be adjourned.

A spokesperson has confirmed this course of action and where this leaves the future of the eircom League for season 2004 is the burning question.

It is understood that UEFA club licensing is once more the main issue and until such time as appeals have been decided no fixtures can be arranged.

As it stands, the two clubs in membership of the league in season 2003 who were unsuccessful in attaining a licence, while others granted a first division licence will appeal.

It is believed that only Dublin clubs and those with Dublin based delegates will attend the meeting at Citywest Hotel to ensure a quorum and that the order of business will be suspended and a new date proposed.
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Not looking good lads.....:(

[A face]

Originally posted by patsh
Not looking good lads.....:(


You're right its not ...... Here we go again, for fcuks sake !!

[tiktok]

not looking as good as i thought originally.

I think we could well be starting late now, and if they proceed with the mid season break, city's involvement in the intertoto cup could cause us a troublesome fixture congestion towards the season's end.

[namloc]

it definitely looks more like the season won't start on time. :( :( :( :( :(

[patsh]

from the Irish Times
Emmet Malone

The Eircom League has been forced to defer the business of its a.g.m. for a second time as a result of the ongoing problems associated with the FAI's new club licensing scheme

The meeting was due to take place tomorrow at the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin and although it will be formally started, as is required under the league's rules, the meeting will be promptly adjourned to an unspecified date while clubs continue to wrestle with the consequences of last week's decision to refuse to grant any Premier Division licences.

Under the scheme clubs must obtain an "A" licence in order to be allowed play top flight football next season. But no club was granted such a licence by the FAI's independent committee while two clubs, Shamrock Rovers and Limerick, were not awarded even the "B" licence required to play in the first division.

Representatives of the league and association have met several times since the committee's decisions were originally revealed and it had been widely expected that the entire process would simply be set aside for a year in order to allow the season to proceed.

It is believed, however, that problems with UEFA, who oversee the wider international scheme, remain and so it is still possible that the situation will result in serious disruption to, or a dramatic reorganisation of, the league for the coming year.

Yesterday was the final day by which appeals against the original licensing decision had to be received and it is believed that around half of the 22 clubs have sought reviews of the initial decisions in their cases.

Of particular concern are the two clubs with no licences who could be prevented from taking any part in the senior campaign if they cannot rectify the situation.

Rovers officials said yesterday that they had been assured by the FAI that they would be granted a licence as soon as they could secure an agreement with another club to stage their home games for the coming season. A club source said that such a deal was about to be struck and that an announcement will be made today.

Last night, however, the position remained unclear after it was reported that FAI talks aimed at securing Rovers's return to Richmond Park had collapsed. Members of the Rovers board had earlier been in talks about playing matches at United Park in Drogheda.

Rovers, however, are desperate to keep their games in Dublin and it is possible that another approach will be made to Bohemians today about the club playing at Dalymount for the coming season. A similar proposal was recently rejected by Bohemians's membership and the intervention of the FAI may be required again if a rethink is to be sought.

Dublin City chairman, Ronan Seery, reacted angrily yesterday to what he said were claims that his club had last week failed to help Rovers by agreeing to move their games to Dalymount, thereby allowing Rovers to play out of Tolka Park again.

"Having canvassed the opinions of all parties," said Seery, "it was decided in the best interests of Dublin City that basing ourselves in Tolka Park, which lies in the area that contains our natural fan base, was the correct thing to do.

"We have nothing but respect for the management, players and directors of Shamrock Rovers," he added, "but we make no apologies for staying put in Tolka Park."

© The Irish Times

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The meeting was convened and then adjourned.
NO DATE was set to reconvene the meeting or even come up with provisional fixtures. Officially, the eL is now in complete disarray, and with less than a month to go to the supposed start, we don't even know what sort of a competition we will have this season, if any at all.
It's possible that we could have a 9 team premier league or that some 1st div clubs will end up playing in the premier.
This is the biggest mess ever.

[Pablo]

It seems our friends in Lausanne were relegagated because they were not up to scratch! shocker!


if the league is delayed clubs are gonna have serious financial difficulties

[Gary]

This whole situation gets more ridiculous by the minute. For the love of jesus, surely they could come up with some sort of contingency plan, but no, they leave the whole thing in limbo.

Looks like we will be going back to a traditional 'winter football' season at the rate we are going.

Fúck sake, just expel Rovers and Limerick.

It pains me to say it, but those 2 showers of prícks are just holding back the rest, and before anyone jumps at me, i know thats oversimplifying the matter entirely.

[pete]

Originally posted by Gary
Fúck sake, just expel Rovers and Limerick.

It pains me to say it, but those 2 showers of prícks are just holding back the rest, and before anyone jumps at me, i know thats oversimplifying the matter entirely.

I think thats a bit harsh. Remember City were in a very simi8lar position to Rovers when Bishopstown turned out badly.

[Peadar]

Originally posted by Gary
Fúck sake, just expel Rovers and Limerick.

It pains me to say it, but those 2 showers of prícks are just holding back the rest, and before anyone jumps at me, i know thats oversimplifying the matter entirely.

The idea of the License is to improve the game in all areas.
If we're being honest, showing sympathy for Rovers and Lims by allowing them to participate in the league will defeat the purpose of the entire scheme. The root cause of the demise of league football in Ireland was our tolerance of sub standard facilities and business practice. Ideally we should want to have both these clubs in our league, but not at any cost. Rovers could have a license if they were able to secure a venue for their home games but their Dublin counterparts are less than happy to facilitate them. Who can blame them really? Rovers and Limerick have only themselves to blame for their current situations and should now suffer the consequences of failure to acquire a license.